Mutual Aid Agreement

Urban forestry needs to be included in the mutual aid agreements that are made by the municipality. Additionally urban foresters need to be at the table when municipalities and cities are negotiating MAAs.

Mutual Aid Agreements (MAAs) are arranged prior to incidents and allow jurisdictions to work together to increase resources. These agreements are critical to the successful management of large scale incidents.

Having a MAA with neighboring cities is not adequate or sufficient. Agreements with cities from outside the region need to be in place to be effective. Make sure you go far enough out to get the resources you need.

A mutual aid agreement is only effective when it is written as a contract.

You’re flirting with disaster every week you don’t have an agreement signed.— Chris Johnson, IA

Recommendations:

Meet with arborists and contractors in nearby communities to understand each other’s storm response and help needed.

Commitments from contractors during an event may be stretched and at risk. Consider more resources identified even if they seem redundant at the time.

Understand that commitments from outside contractors or resource are going to be optimistic. During emergency incidents it may be difficult to respond to needed issues. Plan for the worst case scenario and plan how it will be addressed.

Develop a community of professionals to be there when needed.

Many organizations work together to respond to a storm. Photo courtesy of National Grid

MAA Components/ Purpose of agreements:

Defines type of assistance required, when needed, and the scope of work.

Identifies chain of command for activating agreement.

Defines communication procedures.

Defines types of training needed and/or the type(s) of training in which participation is expected.

Defines certifications and qualifications required.

Defines necessary types of equipment.

Defines the type of insurance needed and indemnification requirements.

Check the Contracts section for additional components you may wish to consider in the MAA.

References:

Remember, the closer to the coast the better the agreements should be.— Daniel Rohe, Rohe DPS, Inc. NY